Reinforced refrigerator cabinet closing drawer

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator with a pull out drawer has plastic cabinet and drawer liners and a closed reinforcing assembly mounted within the drawer and cabinet for supporting loads carried by the drawer. The assembly has a reinforcing brace secured within the drawer having two spaced apart wing members and a cross member connected to and extending between the wing members adjacent an inside surface of the inner liner. The assembly has a pair of telescopically extendable guide rails each mounted to one of the opposing liner side walls of the cabinet and the through the liner of the drawer to support the drawer for relative movement with the cabinet. The cabinet has a pair of reinforcing bracket members located therein each having a side reinforcing portion extending adjacent a corresponding one of the guide rails and mounted to the liner side wall by fasteners passing through the guide rails and liner side walls. The reinforcing bracket members each having a rear wall portion extending orthogonal from the respective side reinforcing portions adjacent to and in contact with the rear wall of the interior liner secured to each other to form a continuous arm to interconnect and reinforce the side reinforcing portions. The closed reinforcing assembly comprising the reinforcing brackets, the guide rails and the reinforcing brace provide a closed loop rectangular reinforcing structure for loads carried by the guide rails and drawer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to structural supportsfor use in refrigerator cabinets employing polyurethane foam insulationand, more particularly, to supports which may be used for supporting apull out drawer that closes an open front of a refrigerator.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] In the art of refrigerator cabinet construction, particularlywhere plastic inner liners are employed, it is frequently necessary toprovide selective reinforcement because the plastic liner walls are notstrong enough to carry shelf load even when the walls are foamed inplace. For example, where shelf supports or the like are attached to theinner liner, particularly a plastic inner liner, some form of support isneeded. A screw receiving aperture in the plastic is generallyunsatisfactory, except where extremely light loads are involved, becauseinsufficient area for thread engagement results and the entire load isconcentrated on a very small portion of the plastic material. Thesefactors contribute to premature undesirable deformation or cracking ofthe plastic sheet.

[0005] In a typical refrigerator construction, metallic plates are usedgenerally as stiffening members where needed. In a more specificapplication, where a load such as a shelf is to be applied to a plasticinner liner, metallic or plastic back plates are employed.

[0006] Another type of local stiffener support is disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,190,305 issued Feb. 26, 1980 and 4,107,833 issued Aug. 22, 1978to Knight et al. These patents teach the use of a fibrous materialbehind the inner wall of the refrigerator cabinet to locally reinforcethe cabinet. The material is compatible with polyurethane foaminsulation.

[0007] Where exceptionally heavy loads must be applied to the innerliner, a separate metallic or molded plastic member may be employedwhich actually bridges between the inner liner and the outer case totransmit the applied interior load directly to the metal outer case.However, such members may act as a thermal conductor between the innerliner and outer wall.

[0008] The structural reinforcement is typically a localizedreinforcement and does not extend beyond the localized areas to bereinforced. Hence, for heavily loaded pull out drawers utilized inbottom mount refrigerators such local structural reinforcement is notusually sufficient for a refrigerator having a plastic liner. There is aneed for reinforcement beyond localized reinforcement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention relates to a refrigerator appliance havinga pull out drawer or door mounted by guide rails to a refrigeratorcabinet for closing an open front portion of the refrigerator cabinet.The refrigerator has a closed loop reinforcing assembly that maintainsthe structural integrity of the cabinet and drawer for loads carried bythe guide rails. The closed reinforcing assembly includes a cabinetliner reinforcement assembly mounted within the refrigerator cabinetthat co-operates with a drawer reinforcing brace assembly mounted withinthe refrigerator drawer.

[0010] The reinforcing bracket assembly is located within the cavity ofthe insulated cabinet and has side reinforcing portions extending alongthe liner side walls adjacent a corresponding one of the guide rails.The side reinforcing portions are mounted to both the cabinet liner sidewall and the guide rails by fasteners passing through the guide railsand liner side walls. The side reinforcing portions are localreinforcement to the liner side walls adjacent the guide rails. Thereinforcing bracket assembly, additionally has a rear wall arm extendingorthogonal from the respective side reinforcing portions adjacent toand, preferably in contact with, an inside surface of the rear wall ofthe interior liner. The rear wall arm interconnects and reinforces theside reinforcing portions to structurally support the liner side wallsof the liner from flexing outwardly from each other adjacent the guiderails. The interconnection of the side reinforcing portions by the rearwall arm structural liner and cabinet reinforcement beyond localreinforcement.

[0011] The reinforcing brace of the closed reinforcing assembly issecured within the drawer at least partially extending across the widthof the drawer. The reinforcing brace is connected to the guide rails atend portions thereof to complete a closed reinforcing structureextending around the cabinet liner and across the drawer liner. Inaddition to providing local support, the closed reinforcing assembly orstructure provides a box-like reinforcement able to support loadscarried by the guide rails in addition to the load of the drawer.

[0012] The reinforcing bracket assembly provides local reinforcement ofthe liner side walls of the cabinet to support the guide rails mountedthereto. The reinforcement is further enhanced by the reinforcingbracket assembly when it is foamed in place. Additionally, theinterconnection of the side reinforcing portions by the rear wall armstructurally supports the liner side walls from flexing inwardly andoutwardly and prevents the transfer of stresses related to the openingof the drawer under predetermined load conditions which stresses wouldotherwise lead to the liner cracking.

[0013] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, thereinforcing bracket assembly is located within the cavity of therefrigerator cabinet and has side reinforcing portions extending alongthe liner side walls adjacent a corresponding one of the guide rails.The side reinforcing portions are mounted to the liner side wall byfasteners passing through the guide rails and liner side walls. The sidereinforcing portions having support flanges extending into and engagingthe foam for providing local reinforcement to the liner side walls. Thereinforcing bracket assembly has a rear wall arm extending orthogonalfrom the respective side reinforcing portions adjacent to and,preferably in contact with, the rear wall of the interior liner. Therear wall arm interconnects and reinforces the side reinforcing portionsto structurally support the liner side walls of the liner from flexingrelative to each other and to thereby prevent stresses from beingtransferred onto the liner from the pull out drawer when the pull outdrawer carries a predetermined load into an open position.

[0014] The reinforcing brace of the refrigerator pull out drawerprovides localized reinforcement to the drawer in addition to its rolein the closed reinforcing assembly. In accordance with one aspect of theinvention, the reinforcing brace is secured within the drawer andextends at least partially across the width of the drawer. The brace hastwo spaced apart members and a cross member connected to and extendingbetween the wing members adjacent an inside surface of the inner linerof the drawer. Each of the wing members has a forward central portionand recessed opposing wing end portions extending from the forwardcentral portion and secured within the drawer. One of the cross memberand the forward central portion has an outward facing surface positionedacross a corresponding one of spaced apart mounting support apertureslocated in the inner liner of the drawer. The wing members and the crossmember are adapted for securement with a corresponding drawer mountingbracket at the outward facing surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] For a better understanding of the nature and objects of thepresent invention, reference may be had to the accompanying diagrammaticdrawings in which:

[0016]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a bottom mount refrigeratorhaving a pull out drawer showing the closed reinforcing assembly of thepresent invention;

[0017]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the closed reinforcingassembly of the present invention in more detail;

[0018]FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view of the refrigerator of FIG. 1

[0019]FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken at section 4-4 of FIG. 3;

[0020]FIG. 5 a end view of the reinforcing bracket assembly of thepresent invention;

[0021]FIGS. 6 and 7 are respectively side and partial perspective viewsof the guide rail assembly of the present invention;

[0022]FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views showing the mounting of thedrawer container basket to the guide rails;

[0023]FIG. 10 is perspective view of the brace assembly and refrigeratordrawer of the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 11 is a end view of the brace assembly of the presentinvention; and,

[0025]FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view showing the corner bracketmounting of the terminal end portion of the wing member to the outerpanel of the drawer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0026] In FIG. 1, a bottom mount refrigerator appliance has a cabinet 10that has an upper fresh food compartment 12, closed by door 26, and alower freezer compartment 14. The lower food or freezer compartment 14has opposing liner side walls 16 to which are mounted telescopic guiderails 18 for supporting pull out drawer 20. In FIG. 1 the pull outdrawer 20 is pulled in direction of arrow 22 to the open position shownwhere the drawer 20 extends across and is spaced forwardly of the openfront 24 of compartment 14.

[0027] It should be understood that the insulated cabinet 10 typicallycomprises a metal outer panel or shell 28 of a thin gauge of steel andan inner liner 30 which is spaced from the metal shell by insulation(not shown in FIG. 1). The insulation is typically a foamed in placepolyurethane insulation which expands to fill the gap between the outershell 28 and inner liner 30. The cabinet inner liner 30 may be eithermetal or plastic and in this preferred embodiment is plastic.

[0028] The lower pull-out drawer 20 also comprises an outer metal panelor shell 32 and a drawer inner liner 34 (FIG. 3). The drawer liner 34typically comprises a plastic material.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, 6 and 7 the drawer 20 is mounted withits inner liner 34 facing the open front 24 of the lower foodcompartment 14 by mounting brackets 40 and telescopic guide rails 18.The telescopic guide rails 18 comprise two opposing telescopic guiderails 18 mounted to a respective one of the opposing liner side walls 16of the freezer compartment 14. The guide rails 18 as shown in FIG. 6,comprise a stationary portion 50 mounted by screws 52 to the liner sidewall 16 of compartment 14. The stationary guide rails 50 each include aU-shaped bracket portion 54 at a forward end thereof adjacent theopening 24 of the compartment 14. The U-shaped bracket portion 54 of thestationary guide rail 50 receives an extending intermediate U-shapedguide bracket 56 that is adapted to slide within the U-shaped 54 of thestationary guide rail 50. The intermediate bracket 56 carries along it'scentral portion 58 a bar shaped rail 60 which is positioned and securedwithin the bracket 56. The rail 60 is attached by rivets 62 to a firstrail end bracket 64. As shown in FIG. 6, the first telescopic guide rail18 is fully extended such that the first rail end bracket 64 extendsthrough the open front 24 of the lower food compartment 14. The firstrail end bracket further has tabs 66 which extend inwardly and upwardlytowards the interior of the food compartment 14 when the guide rail 64is recessed directly within the compartment 14. To effect this, theintermediate bracket or rail portion 56 slides within the bracket 54bringing the first end bracket 64 back within the open front 24 of thecompartment 14.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 1, 8, and 9, a basket 68 extends between theguide rails 18 and has a shoulder or side arm supporting portion 70 thatpasses over and extends along the liner side walls 16 and is seated uponboth of the tab members 66. The telescopic rails 18 support the basket68 for supporting food articles.

[0031] To secure the drawer 20 to the guide rails 18, a pair of mountingbrackets 40 are used. In FIGS. 2, 3, and 7, one of the mounting brackets40 is shown to comprise a front plate 42 and a side plate 44. The frontplate 42 is positioned at right angles relative to the side plate 44.The mounting brackets 40 comprise a steel material having a thickness inthe order of ⅛ of an inch. The side plate 44 is secured to the first endrail 64. The first end rail 64 includes four apertures 72, 72A. Threeapertures 72 are shown for the rail 64. The side plate 44 of themounting bracket includes four apertures 74. The apertures 74 align withthe apertures 72 by placing the side plate 44 flush against the firstend rail 64. Thereafter, a fastener in the form of a threaded screw (notshown) is passed through the aligned apertures and has a head forengaging the outside of the first rail 64.

[0032] The brackets 40 are mounted to the inner liner 34 of the drawer20 by the front plate 42. The front plate 42 has a series of apertures83 throughwhich fasteners (not shown) pass to mount drawer 20 to bracket40 and thus to guide rails 18.

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 10 and 11, the drawer 20 is a pullout drawer or door that is pulled out horizontally from the cabinet 10in the direction of arrow 22. The pull out drawer 20 comprises outerdrawer panel 32 having a generally flat metal sheet with rearwardlyextending side walls 36 and in-turned flanges 38 extending generallyparallel to the flat sheet 32. The inner drawer liner 34 comprises aplastic liner having a peripheral flange 46 secured with the in-turnedflanges 38 of the outer drawer panel 32. Foam insulation 48 is foamed inplace between the inner drawer liner 34 and the outer drawer panel 32.The inner drawer liner 34 has two spaced apart mounting supportapertures 76 as best seen in FIG. 10.

[0034] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, areinforcing brace 90 is secured within the drawer 20 extending at leastpartially across the width of the drawer 20. The brace 90 has two spacedapart wing members 92 and a cross member 94 connected to and extendingbetween the wing members 92 adjacent an inside surface of the drawerinner liner 34. The wing members 92 may comprise a metal plate and inthe preferred embodiment are made from a glass reinforced nylon.

[0035] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 10 and 11 the wing members 92 have aforward central portion 96 and recessed opposing wing end portions 98extending from the forward central portion 96 and secured within thedrawer 20. The forward central portion 96 has an outward facing surface100 positioned across a corresponding one of the spaced apart mountingsupport apertures 76 that is substantially flush with the inner drawerliner 34 for securement with a corresponding drawer mounting bracket 40.A gasket 310 (FIG. 10) surrounds the periphery of the mounting supportaperture 76 and is placed on the outward facing surface 100. Gasket 310acts as a seal for the inner drawer liner 34 and the outward facingsurface 100. Gasket 310 may also provide a cushion for supporting thedoor mounting brackets.

[0036] The cross member 94 comprises a substantially rectangular framehaving two side portions 102 overlapping the central portions 96 of eachwing member 92. The central portions 96 of the wing members 92 has aninside surface 104 that has posts 106 extending into the drawer 20 andthe cross member 94 has side portions 102 with first correspondingapertures 108 throughwhich the posts extend to locate the cross memberrelative to the wing members 92 prior to foaming insulation into thedrawer cavity. Further, each of the central portions 96 of the wingmembers 92 has tabs 110 with barbs extending into the drawer 20 and theside portions 102 of the cross member 94 has second correspondingapertures 112 throughwhich the tabs 110 extend to locate and lock thecross member 94 relative to the wing members 92.

[0037] The central portions 96 of the wing members 92 and side portions102 of the cross member 94 overlapping the central portions 96 havealigned apertures 111 for receiving bracket mounting fasteners (notshown) passing through brackets 40 and brace 90.

[0038] Each of the recessed wing end portions 98 slopes into the drawer20 away from the inner liner 34 at an angle which varies depending onthe drawer height. The wing end portions 98 have terminal end portions114 that preferably extend parallel to the central portion 96. The wingend portions include apertures 116 and side flanges 118 for improvingrigidity and formation with the foam when foamed into the drawer 20. Theterminal end portion 114 is secured with the outer panel 32 of thedrawer 20. The terminal end portion 114 is preferably secured with theouter panel 32 of the drawer 20 through a corner support bracket 300(FIGS. 10 and 12). The bracket 300 has a first portion 302 extendingadjacent the terminal end portions 114 of the wing member and securedthereto by stud fastener 305. The bracket 300 has a base support portion301 that extends at right angles to portion 302 and is secured againstan inside surface of a side wall of the outer drawer panel 32. The brace90 so mounted and foamed in place within drawer 20 provides a localdrawer reinforcing structure that is able to distribute drawer 20loading forces across the drawer 20 away from and independent of thedrawer liner 34. The brace 92 is able to connect at the wing numbercentral portions 96 directly to brackets 40 through aperture 76 in thedrawer liner 34 without placing a load on the drawer liner 34.

[0039] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, therefrigerator cabinet 10 has a reinforced drawer guide rail supportassembly 126 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. The reinforced drawer guide railassembly 126 comprises the pair of telescopically extendable drawersupporting guide rails 18 as described previously each mounted to one ofthe opposing liner side walls 16 and to the insulated drawer 20 suchthat the drawer 20 slides into a sealing engagement with the cabinet 10across the open front 24 when the drawer 20 is closed.

[0040] The reinforced guide rail support assembly 120 includes a pair ofreinforcing bracket members 122 located within the cavity 124 definedbetween cabinet outer panel 28 and liner 30. The bracket members 122,each have a side reinforcing portion 126 extending along the liner sidewall 16 adjacent a corresponding one of the guide rails 18 and mountedto an inside surface 128 of the liner side wall 116 by fasteners 52passing through the guide rails 18 and liner side walls 16. The sidereinforcing portions 126 have support flanges 130 extending into andengaging the foam 48 for providing local reinforcement to the liner sidewalls 16.

[0041] The reinforcing bracket members 122 each have a rear wall portion132 extending orthogonal from the respective side reinforcing portions126 adjacent to and in contact with the rear wall 134 of the cabinetinterior liner 30. The rear wall portions 132 are secured to each otherto form a continuous arm 132 interconnecting and reinforcing the sidereinforcing portions122 to structurally support the liner side walls 16of the liner 30 and from flexing outwardly or inwardly from each otheradjacent the guide rails 18. At the same time, this feature preventsload or stress transfer to the plastic liner.

[0042] Each of the rear wall portions 132 has a flat surface 136 adaptedto rest against the rear wall 134 of the inner liner 30 and a rib 138extending into the cavity 124 to strengthen the rear wall portion 132.Each of the rear wall portions 132 has overlapping end portions 140 withflanges 142 extending into the cavity 134 to positively locate the endportions 140. The overlapping end portions 140 have apertures 144 forreceiving fasteners (not shown) to secure the overlapping end portions140 in fixed relation to each other.

[0043] The reinforced drawer guide rail support assembly 126 furtherincludes a pair of opposed recessed liner slots 150 (FIG. 4) eachextending horizontally along a corresponding one of the opposing linerside walls 16. Each of the telescopically extendable guide rails 18preferably comprises three arms, two of which extend telescopically anda third arm which is mounted within the liner slots 150 to one of theopposing liner side walls 16 and to the side reinforcing portions 122located in the cavity 124.

[0044] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, theclosed reinforcing assembly 200 comprises the combination of theassemblies described hereinabove for the preferred embodiment. That isto say, the closed reinforcing assembly 200 comprises:

[0045] the reinforcing brace 90 secured within the drawer 20,

[0046] a pair of telescopically extendable guide rails 18 each mountedto one of the opposing liner side walls 16 and each having a first railend 64 adjacent the open front 24 when the drawer 20 is closed andpassing through the open front 24 when the drawer 20 is open,

[0047] the pair of reinforcing bracket members 122 located within thecavity 124,

[0048] the pair of mounting brackets 40 for mounting the insulateddrawer 20 to the side rails 18 such that the drawer 20 slides into asealing engagement with the cabinet 10 across the open front 24 when thedrawer 20 is closed,

[0049] the mounting brackets 40 each having a side plate 44 secured byat least one first fastener means to the first rail end 64 of acorresponding one of the pair of guide rails 18, and a front plate 42secured by at least one second fastener means against a correspondingone of the wing members 92 adjacent the drawer mounting bracket aperture76,

[0050] the closed reinforcing assembly comprising the reinforcingbrackets 122, the guide rails 18 and the reinforcing brace 92, maintainsthe structural integrity of the cabinet 10 and drawer 20 for loadscarried by the guide rails18.

[0051] During drawer manufacture, it should be understood that theinsulation may be formed into a completed drawer so as to adhere toinside surfaces of the inner drawer liner and the outer drawer panel.Preferably, the insulation is foamed into a partially completed drawercomprising the outer drawer panel and the reinforcing bracket assemblyof the present invention. Subsequently, the drawer liner is attached tothe outer drawer panel to complete the drawer assembly.

[0052] Certain preferred embodiments of the invention have beendescribed in detail. From a reading of this disclosure, obviousmodifications will be evident to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention disclosed or from the scopeof the appended claims.

What we claim is:
 1. A pull out drawer for closing an open front of arefrigerator appliance comprising: an outer drawer panel; an innerdrawer liner secured to the outer drawer panel, the inner drawer linerhaving two spaced apart mounting support apertures; a reinforcing bracesecured within the drawer extending at least partially across the widthof the drawer and having two spaced apart wing members and a crossmember connected to and extending between the wing members adjacent aninside surface of the inner liner; each of the wing members having aforward central portion and recessed opposing wing end portionsextending from the forward central portion and secured within thedrawer, one of the cross member and the forward central portions of thewing members having outward facing surfaces each positioned across acorresponding one of the spaced apart mounting support apertures forsecurement with a corresponding drawer mounting bracket, and insulationpositioned between the inner drawer liner and the outer drawer panel. 2.The drawer of claim 1 wherein the outward facing surface issubstantially flush with the inner drawer liner.
 3. The drawer of claim1 wherein each central portion of the wing members have an insidesurface adapted to position the cross member relative thereto prior tofoaming.
 4. The drawer of claim 3 wherein each of the central portionsof the wing members has posts extending into the drawer and the crossmember has side portions with first corresponding apertures throughwhichthe posts extend to locate the cross member relative to the wingmembers.
 5. The drawer of claim 4 wherein each of the central portionsof the wing members has tabs with barbs extending into the drawer andthe side portions of the cross member has second corresponding aperturesthroughwhich the tabs extend to locate and lock the cross memberrelative to the wing members.
 6. The drawer of claim 3 wherein each ofthe central portions of the wing members and side portions of the crossmember overlapping the central portions have aligned apertures forreceiving bracket mounting fasteners.
 7. The drawer of claim 1 whereinthe cross member comprises a substantially rectangular frame having twoside portions overlapping the central portion of each wing member. 8.The drawer of claim 7 wherein each of the central portions of the wingmembers has posts extending into the drawer and the side portions of thecross member have first corresponding apertures throughwhich the postsextend to locate the cross member relative to the wing members.
 9. Thedrawer of claim 8 wherein each of the central portions of the wingmembers has tabs with barbs extending into the drawer and the sideportions of the cross member have second corresponding aperturesthroughwhich the barbs extend to locate and lock the cross memberrelative to the wing members.
 10. The drawer of claim 9 wherein each ofthe central portions of the wing members and side portions of the crossmember overlapping the central portions have aligned apertures forreceiving bracket mounting fasteners.
 11. The drawer of claim 7 whereineach of the central portions of the wing members and side portions ofthe cross member overlapping the central portions have aligned aperturesfor receiving bracket mounting fasteners.
 12. The drawer of claim 1wherein each of the recessed wing end portions slopes into the draweraway from the inner liner and is surrounded by insulation.
 13. Thedrawer of claim 12 wherein each of the wing end portions has a terminalend portion secured with the outer panel of the drawer.
 14. The drawerof claim 12 wherein the wing end portions include apertures and sideflanges for improving formation within the drawer with the foam.
 15. Thedrawer of claim 14 wherein the wing members comprise a glass reinforcednylon.
 16. The drawer of claim 11 wherein each of the recessed wing endportions slopes into the drawer away from the inner liner and issurrounded by insulation.
 17. The drawer of claim 16 wherein each of thewing end portions has a terminal end portion secured with the outerpanel of the drawer through a corner support bracket.
 18. The drawer ofclaim 16 wherein the wing end portions include apertures and sideflanges for improving formation within the drawer with the foam.
 19. Thedrawer of claim 18 wherein the wing members comprise a glass reinforcednylon.
 20. The drawer of claim 1 wherein a gasket extends around each ofthe peripheries of the mounting support apertures to seal the innerdrawer liner to the outward facing surface.
 21. The drawer of claim 1wherein the insulation is foamed in place insulation that adheres to theinner drawer liner.
 22. The drawer of claim 1 wherein the insulation isfoamed in place and does not adhere to the inner drawer liner.
 23. Thedrawer of claim 7 wherein a gasket extends around each of theperipheries of the mounting support apertures to seal the inner drawerliner to the outward facing surface.
 24. The drawer of claim 7 whereinthe insulation is foamed in place insulation that adheres to the innerdrawer liner.
 25. The drawer of claim 7 wherein the insulation is foamedin place and does not adhere to the inner drawer liner.
 26. The drawerof claim 1 wherein outer drawer panel comprises a generally flat metalsheet with rearwardly extending side walls and in-turned flangesextending generally parallel to the flat sheet and wherein the innerdrawer liner comprises a plastic liner having a peripheral flangesecured with the in-turned flanges of the outer drawer panel.
 27. Arefrigerator appliance having a reinforced drawer guide rail supportassembly, said refrigerator appliance comprising: an insulated cabinetcomprising an outer panel and an inner plastic liner defining a cavitytherebetween filled with foam insulation and the inner liner definingopposing liner side walls and a rear wall of at least one foodcompartment having an open front; an insulated pull out drawer adaptedto close the open front of the at least one food compartment; and, thereinforced drawer guide rail assembly comprising: a pair oftelescopically extendable guide rails each mounted to one of theopposing liner side walls, and each of the guide rails having a firstrail end adjacent the open front when the drawer is closed and passingthrough the open front when the drawer is open for mounting theinsulated drawer to the guide rails such that the drawer slides into asealing engagement with the cabinet across the open front when thedrawer is closed; and, a reinforcing bracket assembly located within thecavity having side reinforcing portions extending along the liner sidewalls adjacent a corresponding one of the guide rails and mounted to theliner side wall by fasteners passing through the guide rails and linerside walls, the side reinforcing portions having support flangesextending into and engaging the foam for providing local reinforcementto the liner side walls, and the reinforcing bracket assembly having arear wall arm extending orthogonal from the respective side reinforcingportions adjacent to the rear wall of the interior liner, the rear wallarm interconnecting and reinforcing the side reinforcing portions tostructurally support the liner side walls of the liner from flexingrelative to each other and to thereby prevent stresses from beingtransferred onto the liner from the pull out drawer when the pull outdrawer carries a predetermined load into an open position.
 28. Therefrigerator appliance of claim 27 wherein the reinforced drawer guiderail support assembly further includes a pair of opposed recessed linerslots each extending horizontally along a corresponding one of theopposing liner side walls and each of the telescopically extendableguide rails is mounted within a corresponding liner slot to one of theopposing liner side walls.
 29. A refrigerator appliance having areinforced drawer guide rail support assembly, said refrigeratorappliance comprising: an insulated cabinet comprising an outer panel andan inner plastic liner defining a cavity therebetween filled with foaminsulation and the inner liner defining opposing liner side walls and arear wall of at least one food compartment having an open front; aninsulated drawer adapted to close the open front of the at least onefood compartment; and, the reinforced drawer guide rail assemblycomprising: a pair of telescopically extendable guide rails each mountedto one of the opposing liner side walls, and each of the guide railshaving a first rail end adjacent the open front when the drawer isclosed and passing through the open front when the drawer is open formounting the insulated drawer to the guide rails such that the drawerslides into a sealing engagement with the cabinet across the open frontwhen the drawer is closed; and, a pair of reinforcing bracket memberslocated within the cavity and each having a side reinforcing portionextending along the liner side wall adjacent a corresponding one of theguide rails and mounted to the liner side wall by fasteners passingthrough the guide rails and liner side walls, the side reinforcingportions having support flanges extending into and engaging the foam forproviding local reinforcement to the liner side walls, and thereinforcing bracket members each having a rear wall portion extendingorthogonal from the respective side reinforcing portions adjacent to andin contact with the rear wall of the interior liner, the rear wallportions being secured to each other to form a continuous arminterconnecting and reinforcing the side reinforcing portions tostructurally support the liner side walls of the liner from flexingrelative to each other and to thereby prevent stresses from beingtransferred onto the liner from the pull out drawer when the pull outdrawer carries a predetermined load into an open position.
 30. Therefrigerator appliance of claim 29 wherein the reinforced drawer guiderail support assembly further includes a pair of opposed recessed linerslots each extending horizontally along a corresponding one of theopposing liner side walls and each of the telescopically extendableguide rails mounted within the liner slots to one of the opposing linerside walls.
 31. The refrigerator appliance of claim 30 wherein the guiderails each include support tabs directed inwardly into the foodcompartment, and the refrigerator further including a food containerhaving a shoulder adapted to rest on the support tabs for sliding withthe telescopic rails out through the open front of the food compartmentwhen the drawer is open.
 32. The refrigerator appliance of claim 31wherein each of the rear wall portions has a flat surface adapted torest against the rear wall of the inner liner and a rib extending intothe cavity to strengthen the rear wall portion.
 33. The refrigeratorappliance of claim 32 wherein each of the rear wall portions hasoverlapping end portions with foam locating flanges extending into thecavity, and the overlapping end portions having apertures for receivingfasteners to secure the overlapping end portions in fixed relation. 34.A refrigerator appliance having a closed loop reinforcing assemblycomprising: an insulated cabinet comprising an outer panel and an innerplastic liner defining a cavity therebetween filled with foaminsulation, and the inner liner defining opposing liner side walls and arear wall of at least one food compartment having an open front; aninsulated pull out drawer adapted to close the open front of the atleast one food compartment, the insulated pull out drawer having anouter drawer panel and an inner drawer liner secured to the outer drawerpanel with foam insulation between the inner drawer liner and the outerdrawer panel, the closed loop reinforcing assembly comprising areinforcing brace secured within the drawer at least partially extendingacross the width of the drawer; a pair of telescopically extendableguide rails each mounted to one of the opposing liner side walls andeach having a first rail end adjacent the open front secured with thereinforcing brace of the drawer; and a reinforcing bracket assemblylocated within the cavity of the insulated cabinet having sidereinforcing portions extending along the liner side walls adjacent acorresponding one of the guide rails and mounted to the liner side wallby fasteners passing through the guide rails and liner side walls forproviding local reinforcement to the liner side walls, and thereinforcing bracket assembly having a rear wall arm extending orthogonalfrom the respective side reinforcing portions adjacent to the rear wallof the interior liner, the rear wall arm interconnecting the sidereinforcing the side reinforcing portions and together with the guiderails mounted to the reinforcing brace of the pull out drawer completingthe closed reinforcing assembly for maintaining structural integrity ofthe cabinet and the drawer for loads carried by the guide rails.
 35. Therefrigerator of claim 34 wherein the guide rails each include supporttabs directed inwardly into the food compartment, and the refrigeratorfurther including a food container having a shoulder adapted to rest onthe support tabs for sliding with the telescopic rails out through theopen front of the food compartment when the drawer is open.
 36. Therefrigerator of claim 34 wherein each of the wing members has a forwardcentral portion and recessed opposing wing end portions extending fromthe forward central portion and secured within the drawer, the forwardcentral portion having an outward facing surface positioned across acorresponding one of the spaced apart mounting support apertures securedwith a corresponding mounting bracket.
 37. A refrigerator appliancehaving a closed loop reinforcing assembly comprising: an insulatedcabinet comprising an outer panel and an inner plastic liner defining acavity therebetween filled with foam insulation, and the inner linerdefining opposing liner side walls and a rear wall of at least one foodcompartment having an open front; an insulated pull out drawer adaptedto close the open front of the at least one food compartment, theinsulated pull out drawer having an outer drawer panel and an innerdrawer liner secured to the outer drawer panel with foam insulationbetween the inner drawer liner and the outer drawer panel, the innerdrawer liner having two spaced apart mounting support apertures, theclosed loop reinforcing assembly comprising: a reinforcing brace securedwithin the drawer having two spaced apart wing members and a crossmember connected to and extending between the wing members adjacent aninside surface of the inner liner, a pair of telescopically extendableguide rails each mounted to one of the opposing liner side walls andeach having a first rail end adjacent the open front when the drawer isclosed and passing through the open front when the drawer is open; apair of reinforcing bracket members located within the cavity and eachhaving a side reinforcing portion extending along the liner side walladjacent a corresponding one of the guide rails and mounted to the linerside wall by fasteners passing through the guide rails and liner sidewalls, the side reinforcing portions having support flanges extendinginto and engaging the foam for providing local reinforcement to theliner side walls, and the reinforcing bracket members each having a rearwall portion extending orthogonal from the respective side reinforcingportions adjacent to and in contact with the rear wall of the interiorliner, the rear wall portions being secured to each other to form acontinuous arm to interconnect and reinforce the side reinforcingportions; and, a pair of mounting brackets for mounting the insulateddrawer to the side rails such that the drawer slides into a sealingengagement with the cabinet across the open front when the drawer isclosed, the mounting brackets each having a side plate secured by atleast one first fastener means to the first rail end of a correspondingone of the pair of guide rails and a front plate secured by at least onesecond fastener means against a corresponding one of the wing membersadjacent the drawer mounting bracket aperture to complete the closedreinforcing assembly between the reinforcing brackets, the guide railsand the reinforcing brace that maintains the structurally integrity ofthe cabinet and drawer for loads carried by the guide rails.
 38. Therefrigerator of claim 37 wherein the guide rails each include supporttabs directed inwardly into the food compartment, and the refrigeratorfurther including a food container having a shoulder adapted to rest onthe support tabs for sliding with the telescopic rails out through theopen front of the food compartment when the drawer is open.
 39. Therefrigerator of claim 37 wherein each of the vertically extending wingmembers has a forward central portion and recessed opposing wing endportions extending from the forward central portion and secured withinthe drawer, the forward central portion having an outward facing surfacepositioned across a corresponding one of the spaced apart mountingsupport apertures secured with a corresponding mounting bracket.
 40. Therefrigerator appliance of claim 37 wherein the reinforced drawer guiderail support assembly further includes a pair of opposed recessed linerslots each extending horizontally along a corresponding one of theopposing liner side walls and each of the telescopically extendableguide rails is mounted within a corresponding liner slot to one of theopposing liner side walls.
 41. The refrigerator appliance of claim 39wherein the reinforced drawer guide rail support assembly furtherincludes a pair of opposed recessed liner slots each extendinghorizontally along a corresponding one of the opposing liner side wallsand each of the telescopically extendable guide rails is mounted withina corresponding liner slot to one of the opposing liner side walls.